Max Payne 3 Wallpaper, #17224

Many of those bringing films to the Croisette for the Cannes Film Festival, which let's not forget, kicks off tomorrow, are old hands there: Roman Polanski, James Gray, even Baz Luhrmann have all debuted at least one film there in the past. Alexander Payne isn't quite a first-time, but it's over a decade since he was there with "About Schmidt" in 2002, so his return with his latest, "Nebraska," is one of the most exciting moments in the festival (and the film was one of our ten most anticipated there). Coming off his greatest commercial success with the awards-lauded "The Descendants," Payne has switched gears, pulling away from A-listers and makinga  small-scale black-and-white father-and-son tale starring the unlikely duo of veteran Bruce Dern, and "SNL" star Will Forte. And with the film a little over a week from screening in Cannes, the first clip has arrived on the festival's official site (via The Film Stage). The two-minute excerpt introduces us to the central duo, but...

After two years in a row of heavily influencing the Oscar race, the66th  Cannes Film Festival lineup may make it three this year. Certainly I see very long and winding lines to pick up press or market credentials at the Palais, which is adorned with poswters of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in a provocative still shot from their fluffy France-set 1963 comedy A New Kind Of Love. One early clue came when the jury was announced, beginning with President Steven Spielberg and including such Oscar winners as Ang Lee, Nicole Kidman and Christoph Waltz. Certainly many of the contenders, both in and out of competition, are from Academy Award winners and Cannes veterans back with intriguing films that make up a high profile and potent selection judging from the advance buzz.  Competing are the Coen Brothers, Steven Soderbergh, Roman Polanski and Alexander Payne plus a slew of famous names in front of the cameras both on screen and on the Red Carpet this year. As for the competition and key sidebars, there are quite a few buzzy titles to contemplate led by Payne’s last minute entry , Nebraska from Paramount,  which along with Warners’ Gatsby represents the only high profile official participation from the majors for the big screenings this year. ... Read More »